Washing machine



0. P. KOEBEL WASHING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1921 2 SheetsSheet 1 Otto P/(oeed.

0. P. KOEBEL WASHING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 8 flu/swim" OZZOP/(Osuel. 53

traveling movement or reciprocation.

Patented Aug. 21', 1923.

a STATE OTTO- P. KOEBEL, OF

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed May 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Or'ro P. KoEBEn, a citizen of the United States, residin in the city of St. Louis and State of hissouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines of the character of washing machines and it is particularly applicable to machines of the type in which a vessel carrying a liquid is reciprocated. In machines of this class it is desirable to reciprocate the vessel or tub in. such a way that-the liquid within it will be given a cataract action at the end of eaph 11 one type of these machines the vessel or tub is reciprocated by means of a motor and the tub is driven by means of a belt. The use of a belt in such a machine is objectionable because it usually necessitates an increased amount of service in the makin of adjustments which can only be made y an expe rienced mechanic. One of the difliculties in the construction of machines of this type is to provide for a proper reduction of speed from the motor to the shaft or crank that effects the reciprocation of the vessel or tub.

common type of such machine involves the use of a casing open on its upper side, in which the vessel or tub reciprocates. It is necessary to make a connection to the bottom of the vessel to drain it and one of the difliculties of such a construction is to provide simple means for effecting this draining of the tub.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a machine of simple construction which will overcome these difliculties, which will avoid the use of a belt, but which will provide for an adequate reduction of speed from the motor; also to provide simple means for efiecting the attachment of a drain connection to the vessel or tub through the wall of the casing so that the tub can be readily drained without necessitating its removal from the casing.

Further objects of the invention W11 appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel fea-. tures, and in the general combination of parts to be particularly described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce a simple. and efiicient washing machine. A referred embodiment of my invention will tie particularly described in the following 1921. Serial No. 467,961.

specification, invention will ed claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the machine, certain parts bein broken away or shown partially in elevation;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine with a portion of the casing and other parts broken away so as to further illustrate details of the invention;

Figure 3 is a view showing a portion of the end of the machine remote from that which is shown in Figure 2; this view particularly illustrates the manner of holding the drain tube in the wall of the casing;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section and dewhile the broad scope of my be polnted out in the appendtail particularly illustrating the manner in' which the vessel or tub is supported and given the movement which effects the cataract action of the liquid within it;

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the drain connection at the joint where the drain tube connects with the drain cook or outlet-from the tub;

Figure 6 is a plan of the connecting rod which reciprocates the vessel or tub;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section about on the level of the line 7-7 of Fig. 3 and particularly illustrating the drain tube and the means for supporting the same in the side wall of the casing when the tube is not in use; and

Figure 8 is a plan upon an enlarged scale showing a swivel yoke which assists in supporting the drain tube in .the side wall of the casing.

Referring more particularly to the parts, the machine comprises a frame which may be constructed of'light angle iron bars and includes four corner posts 1. This box shape frame is providedwith side plates 2 and end plates 3 which form a casing in which the vessel or tub 4 is supported, and within which the principal part of the mechanism of the machine is carried. According to my invention I support the vessel or tub 4 in such a way that it reciprocates or travels to and fro at a constant level on-a substantially horizontal track and I provide means operating in such a way that near the end of the travel in each direction the forward end of the vessel or tub will be raised automatically.

In order to accomplish this I provide a track consisting of two substantially horizontal parallel rails 53. These rails may be of channel form disposed with the web 6 horizontal and with the flanges 7 disposed vertically. The tub 4 is preferably removably supported in a cradle consisting of two side bars 8 connected by cross bars 9, 9". The tub is supporter near its ends by means of anti-friction bearings 10; each of these bearings mayconsist of a tubular housing 11 attached to a bracket-12 on the under side of. the cradle; each bearing presents a socket 13 which receives a ba 1 14 which is retained in the socket by slightly crimping the edge 15 of the tube. The sockets and balls will be thoroughly lubricated and consequently very'little friction will be developed in moving the tub or vessel to and fro.

The tubular housings 11 are preferably disposed in an inclined position for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. I provide meansfor effecting a to and fro travel of the vessel or tub along this track, which may consist of a connecting rod 16 which is connected at its forked end 17 with the cross bar 9 of the cradle near the middle portion of the tub. I prefer to construct the connecting rod with its forks 17 a and 17 widely separated so as to give two widely separatedbearing points on the bottom of the cradle. This fork then is connected to the cradle by means of a' shaft or long pin 18 the ends of which are supported in brackets 19 attached to the side bars 8 of the cradle. The connecting rod 16 is attached at its outer end to a crank 20 which rotates continuously in the same direction. This crank is preferably carried by a horizontal counter-shaft 21 the inner end of which is supported in an angle shaped bracket 22, the legs of which are attached to horizontal cross bars 23 and 24 of the frame, so that the bracket projects into the interior of the casing below and near one end of the tub. The outer end of the counter-shaft is supported in a bearing block 25 supported on a longitudinal side rail 26 of the frame (see Fig.2) and this block also constitutes a bearing for the vertical wringer shaft 27 which passes up from below, the lower end of this shaft. being stepped in a bearing block 28 (see Fig. 1). bevel gear 39 is mounted which is driven continuously by a bevel gear 30 carried by the shaft 27. A clutch 31 is provided on the counter-shaft comprising a clutch member 31 carried by the bevel gear 29 and a movable clutch member 31 which may be shifted at will by means of a clutch lever 32.-

This clutch lever 32 is of bent or how shape (see Fig. 1) so that its upper end formsa handle 33 which is accessible at the open upper side 0'? the casing. This leveris at tached by a pivot pin 34 to a skew bracket 35 attached on the upper leg 22 of the bracket 22. The lever 32 is bowed out- Or the counter-shaft 21 a loosewardly so that its concave side is toward the end of the tub. In. this way the skew bracket forms an inclined seat for the fulcrum of the lever,- enabling the lever to operate so that it will not obstruct in any way the path of movement of the tub. At the same time it operates to give the effect of a long lever arm to operatethe clutch.

The wringer shaft 27 carries a worm wheel 36 which meshes with a worm 37 carried by the shaft 28 of an electric motor 39. It will be noted that the shaft 27 is located in a. corner of the casing between the tub and the side of the casing. The motor 39 is preferably disposed directly under the tub and in a skew position so that its shaft 38 projects toward or into the corner of the casing adjacent to the shaft 27. Simply by placing the motor in this posi-tionand employing a worm and worm wheel I avoid the necessity for the usual belt which must be used where bevel gearing is employed for driving the vertical shaft from the motorshaft. At the same time the use of a worm and wheel enables me to effect a considerable reduction of velocity of the driving movement.

In order to raise the forward end of the tub at the end of every travel or reciprocation I simply provide the rails 5 with upwardly inclined end portions 4O beyond which point the ends of the rails are attached to cross rails 41. When the tub is reciprocating, toward the end of the travel.

in each direction the bearings 10 run up on the inclined portions 40 and this raises the forward end of the tub. The end walls 42 of the tub are concave on their inner sides so that as the liquid or wash water within the vessel or tub comes against the end walls or heads 42 the liquid is deflected upwardly in the manner indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, thereby producing a cataract action of the liquid. In other words, I utilize the momentum of the liquid to produce a reverberatory movement in the liquid at the forward and elevated end of the vessel and the inclined end portion on which the forward end of the tub rests also. through the action of gravity. assists the return movement of the vessel.

I provide'simple means for enabling the tub 4 to be drained without removing it from the casing. In order to accomplish this I provide a drain outlet or drain cock 4-3 which is preferably in the form of a goose-neck or elbow, the horizontal portion of the elbow being provided on its under side with an outlet opening 44, (see Fig. 5) which may be closed by rotating a rotatable member or swivel ring 45 disposed on the outer side. The swivel ring 45 has an openmg 46 which may register with the opening 45 (see Fig. 5) at which time the outlet conncction would be open. I provide a imparted from the tube to the collar 45' secured in the slots 49,

drain tube 47 which is normally supported in an opening 48 in the end wall 3 of the casing. This drain tube is of conical form and at its large end is provided with two bayonet slots 49, one on each side which are intended to receive pins 50 located diametrically opposite to each other on the swivel collar or ,ring 45. At one side and near the inner end the drain tube 47 is provided with an inclined gutter 51 which communicates with the interior of the tube. In Fig. 1 the tube 47 is illustrated in the relation which it assumes when it is about to be attached to the drain outlet 43.

By slight rotation, it is evident that by shoving the tube inwardly horizontally the slots 49 can be made to engage the pins 50. Then by a slight rotation the pins will be and if the rotation be continued a rotary movement will be and this will bring the parts into the relation shown in Fig. 5; the liquid within the tub will then drain from it.

When the drain tube 47 is not is supported in a vertical position in the window 48 (see Fig. 3). In order to do this the lower end of the tube is held supported in a swivel ring 52 having pintles 53 at diametrically opposite points, and these pintles are supported in small bearings 53 at the side edges of the window or opening 48. On account of the conical form of the tube it will support itself in the ring 52 in the manner illustrated. The n per end of the tube is removably held in a spring clasp or collar 54 formed of light resilient material bent to form feet 55 which are riveted to the wall of the casing. This spring presents two yielding jaws or bows 56 which project toward the interior of the casing and from a narrow throat 57 through which the upper end of the tube may be forced into position.

The upper end of the wringer shaft 27 passes into a gear casing 58 (see Fig. 1) for a wringer 59, and a lever 60 ma provided for running the wringer in either direction or for leaving it disconnected from the shaft 27. The gear casing 58'is formed in the upper part of a wringer frame 61 which swivels on the shaft 27 and i supported on a circular seat 62. The springpressed trigger 64 enables the wringcr to be locked to the seat in the position shown or in any other position corresponding to notches such as the notch 65 placed in'the edge of the seat 62.

The lower ends of the corner posts 1 are provided with casters 66 which facilitate the movement of the machine about the The machine may be provided with simple means for lifting the weight of the machine oil the casters; a simple construction for this purpose is shown in Figure 2.

in use it This consists of two cam 67 pivoted at 68 and adapted to be operated by a depressible cross-head 69. his cross-head 69'is pro vided with a guide block 70 which slides in a guide 71 formed in the end of the.

name, and is secured in the'bottom of the guide by a pin 72 running in a slot 73, the

my direct drive y means of the and worm, resides in the 'fact shaft 21 to be located in tion where motion can be from it to the tub 4.

It is understood that the embodiment of an elevated posimore readily taken the invention described herem is only one of the many embodiments my invention may take, and I do not wish to be limited in the practice of my invention nor in my claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

I claim 1. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a vessel a substantially horizontal track supporting the vessel and for guiding the same at a constant level, means for effecting a to and fro travel of the vessel along the track. and means for raising the forward end of the vessel with respect to the body of the vessel toward the end of its travel in each direction, thereby utilizing the momentum of the liquid to produce a reverberatory movement in the liquid at the forward and elevated end of the vessel.

2. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a. vessel for carrying a liquid. a substantially horizontal track supporting the vessel and for guiding the same at a constant level. means for effecting a to and fro travel of the vessel along the track, said track having elevated end portions operating to raise the forward end of the vessel toward the end of its travel in each direction, thereby utilizing the momentum of the liquid to produce a reverberatory movement in the liquid at the forward and elevated end of the vessel. I

3. In a machine of the kind described. the combination of a tub to carry a liquid, a

substantially horizontal track supporting the tub. said tub having bearings resting upon the track and cooperating with the track to guide the tub at a constant level, means for carrying a liquid,

for effecting a to and fro travel of the tub along the track, said track having elevated end portions co-operating with the hearings to raise the forward end of the tub toward the ends of its travel in each direction, thereby utilizing the momentum of the liquid in thetub to produce a reverberatory movement in the liquid at the forward and elevated end of the tub.

4. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a substantially horizontal track having upwardly inclined end portions, a vessel for carrying a liquid having bearings with sockets on their under sides, a ball receivedin each socket and resting on the track to support the vessel, and means for effecting a to and fro travel of the vessel on the track, the inclined end portions eo-operating with the hearings to raise the forward end of the vessel at the end of its travel in each direction and thereby develop a cataract action in the liquid.

5. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a frame, a casing carried thereby open on its upper side, a track supported by the frame and having upwardly inclined end portions, a vessel supported on the track, a substantially horizontal countershaft having a crank, a connecting rod connecting the same with the middle portion ofi the vessel on the under side thereof, a bracket supported by the frame, projecting into the interior of the casing and constituting a bearing support for the counter-shaft, a clutch on the counter-shaft, a bent clutch lever pivotally mounted on said angle frameand having its upper end accessible at the upper and open side of the casing, and means for driving the counter shaft.

6. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a casing, a vessel for carrying a liquid supported therein, means for reciprocating the vessel, said vessel having a drain-cock near one end thereof, said casing having a drain tube supported in the wall thereof, said drain tube and said drain cok having an interlocking connection enabling the tube to be attached to the tub for draining the same. i

7. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a casing, a tub supported therein, means for reciprocating the tub, said tub having a drain-cock at one end thereof projecting toward the end of the casing, the adjacent end of the casing having an opening in the wall thereof, said drain-cock having a rotatable member mounted thereon having aposition in which the liquid in the tub will drain therefrom and having another position for closing off the flow of the Water from the tub, and a drain tube extending through the opening in the casing, said drain tube and said sleeve having a disoonnectible connection constructed to be operated from the exterior of the casing for connecting the drain tube to the drain-cock.

8. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a substantially horizontal track, a vessel for carrying the liquid sup-- ported on the track, and meansfor effecting a to and fro travel of the vessel along the track, the intermediate portion of said track operating to. guide the vessel on a constant level, said track having upwardly inclined end portions operating to raise the forward end of the vessel toward the end of its travel in each direction, thereby producing a cataract action of the liquid at the forward end of the tub, said inclined end portions operating to assist the return movement of'the vessel and liquid at .the end of its travel.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

OTTO P. KOEBEL. 

